4 MIN READ
Insights Into A Permanent Dry Rot Solution!
Dry rot is a term that describes various stages of deterioration in wood which compromises its capacity to function properly in your home. Caused by a fungus that invades and feeds on moist or damp wood, dry rot can be more easily removed and the wood more readily repaired in its earlier stages. In later stages, wood that has been consumed by dry rot will be completely dilapidated and useless, needing total replacement.
Due to the progressive nature of the dry rot fungus, insights into creating permanent solutions for dry rot include: knowing the signs of dry rot, catching dry rot early, having a professional dry rot repair and removal company fix the dry rot problem, and having your home professionally weatherproofed to prevent dry rot.
First Insight Into Solving Dry Rot: Know The Signs!
In the earliest stages of dry rot, the fungus manifests as a sheen of reddish or brown spores that spread out over a wood surface. As the fungus proliferates and begins to consume the wood, its surface can become discolored and it can shrink. If untreated, the dry rot fungus will eventually produce very strange looking growths on the wood surface that look like cotton or cobwebs and mushrooms.
Any wood that appears to be changing radically in appearance is likely infected by dry rot. The consistency of such wood will become greatly compromised as it will begin to chip and crumble easily and will no longer be able to support weight. Wood invaded by dry rot will not be able to function properly: floors will sink in and windows will not close properly.
Key Signs Of Dry Rot:
Wooden floors, surfaces and structures become dark and discolored.
Wood surfaces and structures shrink and become loose (you might notice gaps where wood junctures were previously seamless).
A musty, earthy, fungus-like odor.
Cotton, cobweb, or mushroom-like growths on wood surfaces and structures.
Wood flooring sinks and has areas that “give” when walked upon.
Wood easily crumbles when bearing weight or appears dilapidated.
Second Insight Into Solving Dry Rot: Know Where to Look!
Knowing the signs of dry rot is essential, but knowing where to look for dry rot so you can catch early is the next step. Dry rot generally thrives in places that are continuously moist or damp, such as your kitchen, bathroom, utility room or basement. Dry rot can also take hold in exterior portions of your home that are exposed to wet weather.
The Following List Features Main Places Dry Rot Grows:
Under the flooring and on or inside the walls
Countertops and cupboards of bathrooms and kitchens
In, on, or around window and door frames.
Inside or beneath siding that is damaged or appears to be deteriorating.
Anywhere on an outside deck.
Wood surrounding gutters, flashing, and eaves.
Beneath roofing and shingles that have become loose or damaged.
Inside the inner walls and structures, beams, posts, and joists of your home.
Inside crawl spaces and attics.
Once you know what to look for and where to look for dry rot, you are able to enact preventative maintenance of your home that will save you a headache down the road. Identifying and repairing dry rot in its early stages will save you money and hassle. Dry rot removal and repair also helps to preserve the integrity of your home, extend its longevity and improve its value.
Third Insight Into Solving Dry Rot: Professional Dry Rot Repair & Removal!
SFW Construction is the Pacific Northwest’s premiere dry rot repair and removal company. Having served satisfied customers for over a decade, we’ve become experts in identifying, targeting, and repairing wood that has been compromised due to dry rot. And as a general contractor with loads of construction and carpentry experience, we are well-equipped to provide any home renovation services you need to repair dry rot damages to the structure of your home.
Remediating dry rot problems is technical work—because if you don’t eradicate the entire mass, down to the tiniest spores, the dry rot fungus can continue to grow. And dry rot doesn’t just occur in isolated places or simply stop after it destroys one area of wood; it feeds on any and all available sources of damp wood, and spreads continuously. Known as ‘building cancer,’ dry rot is very threatening to the health of your home because it will continue to advance until extracted entirely.
While the average Joe may be able to fix dry rot temporarily, effective and long-lasting repair typically requires professional dry rot repair and removal services, such as those provided by SFW Construction.
Fourth Insight Into Dry Rot: Weatherproof Your Home!
This insight is actually quite simple: the drier you keep the wood surfaces and structures in your home, the less likely you are to have dry rot. While outside areas are more difficult to protect, there are effective strategies to direct wet weather away from windows, doors and other vulnerable areas of your home.
Properly flashing windows and doors, repairing damaged siding, preventative roofing work, and thoroughly sealing and protecting outside wood surfaces are top weatherproofing strategies. Checking your basement for leaks, making sure pipes aren’t leaking, ensuring paint and other sealants throughout the house are up-to-date, and examining windows to ensure they are functioning properly are all important steps.
SFW Construction is committed to helping our customers preserve the integrity of their homes by removing and repairing dry rot as well as implementing home weatherproofing strategies that keep your home more durable in the wet weather.
Pacific Northwest Weather Induces Dry Rot
The wet, rainy weather of the Pacific Northwest provides a perfect environment for the dry rot fungus to grow. The fungus is said to thrive on wood that has merely 20% moisture content, which means, if you live in the Northwest, your home is probably at risk for dry rot. SFW Construction can repair your dry rot and weatherproof your home to resist the dry rot fungus.
Contact us today for a free consultation on dry repair and dry rot removal!